Warm and Cozy
Rating: T
Relationship: GerFrukPort
Word Count: 770
Read on AO3
Arthur couldn’t breathe. Flames danced behind his closed eyes as he fought for air. His lungs burned, but as he blinked open his blurry eyes it wasn’t smoke that scorched them. He wasn’t even in the midst of the burning street. Instead, he was squished between two warm bodies; Afonso and Francis. It would have been a nice wake-up call that he really needed if they weren’t suffocating him.
Carefully, Arthur wiggled out of the embrace to catch his breath. He looked over to ensure his lovers were still fast asleep only to find one missing. Had Ludwig even come to bed after Arthur, Francis, and Afonso turned in for the night?
Well, it wasn’t like Arthur was going to be going back to bed anytime soon, his body still shaking from the nightmare before. He set off into the dark halls in search of his missing lover.
Ludwig sat hunched over the kitchen table, a collection of papers splayed out and a mug in his grip.
“Have you been up this entire time?” Arthur asked, leaning against the door frame.
Ludwig straightened. “What are you doing up?”
“I asked my question first.”
Ludwig peeked over his shoulder. “Maybe I have…Now what are you doing up?”
Arthur sauntered over to the table, taking a seat across from Ludwig. “Nightmare.”
“I see. Want to talk about it?”
“Not really. I barely remember it anyway.”
“There should be some tea left if you want. Chamomile.”
Arthur smiled, giving Ludwig a peck on the cheek as he passed by him on the way to the kettle. With a mug in hand, he joined Ludwig once again, this time sitting beside him so he could rest his head on Ludwig’s shoulder.
They lapsed into silence, Arthur watching lazily as Ludwig’s pencil scratched along the papers. He should have been telling Ludwig to get to bed, that the paperwork would be there in the morning. But he didn’t. He wasn’t ready to go to sleep, and he didn’t want to be up alone.
“You two should be in bed,” Francis rasped, appearing in the doorway with a half-asleep Afonso lagging behind.
“I’m almost done,” came Ludwig’s automated reply.
Francis scoffed, marching over to the table and snatching up the papers.
“Francis–” But before Ludwig could get another word out, two arms slunk around his neck.
“Vem cá, meu amor,” Afonso murmured into Ludwig’s hair, “You’ve worked so hard already. Just come to bed, and we can all cuddle.”
“And what are you doing up?” Francis asked, turning to Arthur accusingly.
“Couldn’t get back to sleep,” Arthur shrugged.
Francis pursed their lips, eyes narrowing, but they didn’t press the issue. “Afonso’s right, let’s get to bed. We don’t have to sleep right away, but at least we’re resting. Together.”
“Let us finish our tea first,” Arthur huffed.
Francis rolled his eyes but let them finish. As soon as the last drop was drunk, he was shooing both Arthur and Ludwig back to bed with the help of Afonso.
Arthur flopped onto the bed, Ludwig crawling in beside him more carefully. Afonso pressed up behind Arthur, holding just how he knew Arthur liked it: a bit of pressure around the waist, nose buried in the crook of the Brit’s neck so he could steal an occasional kiss on the nape. Francis slunk halfway on top of Ludwig so he wouldn’t be able to sneak off.
Arthur couldn’t help but smile slightly, warm and cozy with all his lovers.
Ludwig was the first to nod off. Good. He had been having trouble sleeping, working late into the night, and overthinking everything he still had to do once he finally did come to bed. At least now he was sound asleep, face finally relaxed.
Francis followed not long after. Ear over Ludwig’s heart, the beat sending him off. He always had such long lashes that mesmerized Arthur.
“You need to sleep,” Afonso mumbled against Arthur’s neck.
“Yeah, Yeah. I’m going. You need to sleep too.”
“Not until you do, meu coelho. Can’t have you up and stressing.”
A light blush spread across Arthur’s face. Afonso kissed up and down his neck turning Arthur’s limbs into goo. He didn’t know if he wanted to curse his Portuguese lover out because how dare he know all of his weaknesses or if he should inch a little closer and willingly melt in Afonso’s warmth.
But sleep gave him his answer: a quiet acceptance of the affection he so desperately craved and now got without so much as a word. It didn’t take him long before the warmth lulled him back to sleep.
Translations: Vem cá, meu amor = Come now, love
meu coelho = my bunny









